September 06, 2014

I'm keeping it simple this month for the Together Circle of Do.Good Stitches and have picked a disappearing nine patch.

For each block you will need 9, 5 inch squares of fabric. Please use orange, yellow and light blue, together with neutral solids or low volume fabrics. I'm going for a vintage feel, so feel free to use florals, small prints or dots. Please keep the neutral and low volume fabrics cream rather than white.

I did one block with 5 neutral and 4 coloured squares

and the other with 4 neutral and 5 coloured. I'd like you to do the same if you can please.

Sew your block together and press. I press my block seams to one side, so that I can nest them to match points when sewing the rows together, but I press my row seams open as that helps the block lie flat.

Once you have pressed your block, take it back to your cutting mat and cut it in half

and then in half again, so you end up with 4 equal sized quarters.

Now, take your quarters and move them around until you like the layout.

Once you are happy with the layout, sew the quarters back together to make a square.

And there you have it, disappearing nine patch. Your finished blocks should be 13.5in square.

March 22, 2014

Not much sewing around here lately. However, I have been doing plenty of sewing related things.

I met up with my lovely FQR Bumbling Honey Bee mates in London. I took next to no photos, but Clare has a write up on her blog with some great photos, so pop on over there to take a look. It was a fantastic day - it's always such a pleasure to spend time with people who share your passions and can talk fabric for hours.

I've been cutting fabic for a plus quilt. If you follow me on Instagram (I'm thewoolpalace, natch) then you've probably seen what I'm up to with that. Today I laid it all out so there should be some sewing commencing on that soon.

I have another finished top that I haven't blogged yet. I took some photos a couple of weeks ago but a breezy morning combined with a recalcitrant 17 year old quilt holder do not make for great shots.

This is the best of a bad lot, I assure you. One to blog more about once I've quilted it I think. I'm considering FMQing this one - eek!

February 24, 2014

March is my month in the FQR Bumbling Honeys Bee, so I thought I'd do a post about the block I would like my lovely bee mates to make for me.

I was going to ask people to make random arrangements of flying geese, but then I saw Charlotte's Migration block tutorial and knew that it would be perfect.

I'll be sending out a selection of teal, orange, grey and black fabrics

and a mix of low volume for the background.

If you get either of the two fabrics shown on the left in your envelope, please use them in reverse, as shown on the right, ie wrong side up, as otherwise they are a little dark for my low volume scheme.

I will do most of the cutting for you, as I am doing this all from stash so need to make sure that I have enough fabric. And trust me, there is a lot of cutting!

I will send enough fabric for two blocks. The blocks are quite large at 16 in square, but I'm hoping that as most of the cutting is being done for you, it will be manageable. Of course, if it is an issue for anyone, then just send back the fabric and I will make up the blocks myself.

February 21, 2014

I love the extra time half term brings. The children are past the age of needing to be taken out on trips, and they can usually get themselves out and about if they do decide to emerge from their pits bedrooms. This leaves me free to enjoy a more leisurely morning routine and plenty of time to mess around with fabric. The downside is that when I do venture out of the house, I invariably realise, too late, that I am covered in thread, but hey, I can live with that.

I've been on a bit of a spring cleaning tip with my sewing this week; trying to finish up current projects and clear the decks for some new ideas. Yesterday I tackled my scraps.

It took some doing but after several hours I was covered in thread (again) and I had the luscious pile of selvedges you see above, and my scrap boxes looked lovely and neat.

Large bits all folded neatly and smaller squares and strips all tucked away nicely in ziplock bags. Of course, I forgot to take a before shot, so you will have to trust me when I say this is a HUGE improvement.

And last but by no means least, I have a mountain of strings.

Photo bombing cat for scale.

I know I'm meant to be finishing things, but I definitely have plans for these!